MLB owners and players spent the third consecutive day away
from the table yesterday, with MLB chief labor negotiator Randy
Levine and acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig working to round up
the 21 votes necessary for ratification. According to the
WASHINGTON POST, once Levine and MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr resume
negotiations, "a deal could come quickly." One source familiar
with the talks: "It's basically all worked out and done between
Randy and Don. Once Randy comes back to the table, that means
the owners have authorized him to finish it off." The delay has
been credited to concerns among a minority in ownership on
granting the players service time. One management source said
three teams -- the Cubs, White Sox and Marlins -- would vote
against a deal that includes service time, but others opposed to
the issue would not allow their objections to lead to a "no" vote
(Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 8/16).
HEAD-COUNTING: Two people close to the talks, cited by the
N.Y. TIMES, say that Selig has the 21 votes he needs, with one
saying Selig is trying to add to the total, while the other
believes Selig "was shoring up the votes he had." Still another
source familiar with the effort believes Selig "still had work to
do" (Murray Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 8/16).
REINSDORF RESPONDS: White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf, cited
by the AP and others as the leader of the so-called hard-liners
who oppose granting service time, believes the deal is "far from
approval," according to the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Reinsdorf: "I
don't believe most teams are in favor. ... I don't think they can
get 15 votes." Reinsdorf also denied reports he is leading the
charge against service time and trying to round up support
against any agreement that includes that provision. Reinsdorf:
"What was presented to me, I was against. But I have not called
one single team. In fact, a lot of guys were calling me to make
sure I'm not going to vote for it. I'm not a leader." Reinsdorf
even declined to say whether he opposes granting service time
(Paul Sullivan, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/16).
QUOTES AND COMMENTARY: In Tampa, Bill Chastain writes,
"Give me service time, or give me death. Hardly the stuff to
inspire Patrick Henry" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 8/16). In Orlando, George
Diaz writes, "Levine needs to drop any attempts at diplomacy and
cut to the bottom line: break the deal, break the game" (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 8/16). In New York, Mark Kriegel writes, "Yes,
finally, baseball can have a labor agreement, just as soon as
Cardinal Reinsdorf agrees" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/16). Padres Owner
John Moores: "It is very encouraging that I don't see Fehr
blasting American capitalism in front of the TV cameras" (SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/15). NEWSDAY's Joe Gergen: "The idea of
Jerry Reinsdorf and a few other hard-liners blocking the
implementation of a new CBA benefiting many over the issue of
service time ... smacks of a personal agenda" (NEWSDAY, 8/15).
In S.F., Glenn Dickey writes, "An agreement won't wipe out the
memory of the '94 strike which alienated so many fans, but it at
least removes the fear that there will be another one soon" (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 8/15). In K.C., Jeffrey Flanagan writes, "An employee
chooses to strike. An employee chooses to stop working. So can
someone explain why the employer should be obligated to credit
the employee for missed days of work? Better yet, why would
anyone think that the issue is even negotiable" (K.C. STAR,
8/15). In Chicago, Dave Van Dyck writes, "Well, it's been three
years, so a few more days isn't going to make much difference"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/16).
